Australian Immigration Daily News

Important Amendments to Bridging Visa Applications

The Department of Home Affairs has issued a new instrument, LIN 24/045, which amends the Migration (Arrangements for Bridging Visa Applications) Instrument LIN 21/045. This amendment specifies that applications for Bridging D (Class WD) and Bridging E (Class WE) visas using paper forms 1007 and 1008 must not be submitted electronically, including via fax or email.

Effective Date: The changes come into effect the day after registration.

The latest Provider Update for July 2024 covers significant developments and statistics related to Student and Temporary Graduate visas. Key points include:

Student and Temporary Graduate Visa Data:

• There were 580,193 student visa applications lodged globally in the 2023-24 program year, a 1.75% decrease compared to the previous year.
• The grant rate for applications lodged in Australia was 83.7%, while it was 78.3% for those lodged outside Australia.

Recent Changes in the Student Visa Program:

The Migration (Workplace Justice Visa—LIN 24/055) Instrument 2024 establishes a new visa under the subclass 408 Temporary Activity Visa for addressing workplace exploitation.

Effective from the day after registration, this legislative instrument specifies the entities that can issue certificates for workplace exploitation matters, the types of exploitation covered, and the eligibility criteria for applicants. Key entities include the Fair Work Ombudsman and various unions.

The visa aims to allow temporary migrant workers to remain in Australia to resolve workplace exploitation issues effectively. Detailed consultation with relevant government agencies and practitioners informed the drafting of this instrument.

Please be aware that from 1 August 2024, the Department of Home Affairs will no longer accept payments from Diners Club cards and Discover cards. 

The National Australia Bank limited, which acquired Citigroup's consumer banking business including Diners Club Pty Ltd in Australia ('Diners Club') in June 2022, recently advised the Department about their intention to end the Diners Club Merchant Agreement by no later than 15 September 2024.

As Discover card payments are processed through the same merchant, the Department will also no longer accept payments from Discover cards. A decision may be made in the future to commence a new merchant agreement directly with Discover and if so, you will be informed.

The Migration (Strengthening Reporting Protections—LIN 24/057) Instrument 2024, issued under the authority of the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, commenced on 1 July 2024. This legislative instrument is designed to enhance protections for temporary migrant workers, encouraging them to report workplace exploitation without the risk of visa cancellation.

Key elements of the instrument include:

1. Non-Discretionary Protection: Specific protections against visa cancellation for temporary migrant workers who report workplace exploitation.
2. Discretionary Protection: In cases where non-discretionary protections do not apply, the Minister must consider various factors before deciding on visa cancellation.
3. Certifying Entities: A range of government and non-government bodies, such as the Fair Work Ombudsman and various unions, are authorised to issue certificates attesting to instances of workplace exploitation.

This instrument represents a significant step towards protecting the rights of temporary migrant workers, providing them with the confidence to report exploitation without jeopardising their visa status. For more detailed information, please refer to the documents below.